Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that the V VISCACHA & friends meeting will take place at Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile from 1-6 September 2024. 

The VISCACHA survey (http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~viscacha/) is an ongoing scientific project involving researchers from Chile, Brazil, Argentina, México, United States and Poland, aimed at studying star clusters in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC), using SOAR and Gemini-S telescopes. The past four editions of the meeting occurred in a format reserved only for VISCACHA members. This year, we want to open the doors and extend our invitation to the general academic public. This edition is also special since it will be our first meeting held in Chile. 

The meeting is planned to have talks (no posters) and one or two round table discussions during the first three days (open to the general academic public) and sprint sessions the last two days (reserved for members of the collaboration). The first half of the event will have invited and contributed talks from VISCACHA members and other international scientists, covering topics such as:

	- Chemical evolution of the Magellanic Clouds

	- Structure and dynamics of the Magellanic Clouds 

	- Stellar and star cluster evolution

	- Interaction of the Magellanic Clouds with the Milky Way

We have also organized a visit to Cerro Pachón, where the telescopes are situated, and a  closing "Star Party" on Friday night to observe the Magellanic Clouds. 

Below you will find more relevant information. Do not hesitate to write to us if you have any questions. 

I hope to see you in La Serena!!!

Celeste Parisi, on behalf of the LOC.

=*.*= Important dates =*.*=

01/Jul: Abstract submission and registration deadline

12/Jul: Programme release

01/Sep: Meeting starts.

=*.*= Registration =*.*= 

The registration and abstract submission is already open. Complete the form on the event website:

http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~viscacha/Vmeeting/vmeeting.html

The registration fee is CLP 30000 for undergraduate or masters students, CLP 55000 for PhD students, CLP 75000 for post-docs, CLP 110000 for faculty. For non-members of the VISCACHA collaboration, the registration fee is according to their category plus CLP 10000 extra. The registration fee must be paid upon arrival.   We will receive requests for waivers of the registration fee in the registration form. We will do our best to accommodate them according to the availability of funds for the event.

=*.*= SOC members =*.*= 

	Alexandre Roman-Lopes (Universidad de La Serena, Chile)

	Bruno Dias (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile), Co-Chair

	Elisa Garro (European Southern Observatory, Chile)

	Francisco Maia (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Co-Chair

	Gustavo Baume (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina)

	Raphael Oliveira (University of Warsaw, Polonia)

=*.*= LOC members =*.*= 

	Alexandre Roman-Lopes (Universidad de La Serena, Chile), Co-Chair

	Amelia Ramirez (Universidad de La Serena, Chile)

	Bernardo Pereira (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil)

	Celeste Parisi (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and IATE, Argentina), Co-Chair

	Doug Geisler (Universidad de La Serena and Universidad de Concepción, Chile)

	José Fernandez Trincado (Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile)

=*.*= Contact =*.*=

Please write to viscacha.project@gmail.com